Mary Ann makes clean break after 16 years at Knock NS
Principal Mary Butler and children Saoirse Tully and Margaret Butler make a presentation to Mary Ann Bowe to mark her retirement as cleaner at Knock NS Photos: Alf Harvey
IT was a day of great joy and sadness at Knock NS on Wednesday last when staff and pupils bid a fond farewell to one of their most cherished colleagues and friend.
After 16 years of dedicated service as the school’s cleaner, Mary Ann Bowe finally got to put away her duster and polish tin as she began her well-deserved retirement.
As staff and pupils gathered to wish Mary Ann a happy and healthy retirement, school principal Mary Butler led the tributes to a popular and much-cherished member of staff and a woman who became a friend and enriched the lives of everyone she met at Knock NS.
“The school community would like to thank Mary Ann for everything she has done for our school, our staff and our students over the years.” Mary added: “Mary Ann would arrive shortly after the school day ended with a kind smile, a helpful hand and a word of encouragement ‒ she was a welcome sight for all staff after a busy day.
“Mary Ann has been much more than our school cleaner. Yes, she kept our classrooms tidy, our hallways gleaming and our shared spaces fresh and welcoming, but what she gave us goes far beyond that. Her quiet presence at the end of each day was a reminder that every person in our school community matters ‒ and that everyone contributes to the care and wellbeing of this special place for our students.
“Through the years, she’s been a part of our everyday life and we’ve come to rely on her, not just for her hard work but for the calm, kind spirit she brought with her. She wasn’t in the spotlight, but her work shone every single day.
‘‘We hope she will now enjoy the rest she deeply deserves ‒ and, perhaps, the chance to do same things just for herself, in her own time, at her own pace.” Knock NS will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The school hopes to mark the event by hosting an open day at the school on Saturday 18 October, with other possible events planned throughout the month. Keep an eye on the school’s Facebook page Knock National School Laois.
Se a two-page spread from this special event at Knock NS in next week's , on sale from Tuesday next in all local stores
